Author
Topic: Re-spot welding tinplate cars (Read 77 times)

Does anyone have a suggestion on what to buy to re-weld tinplate cars. I know they are spot welded, but what did Lionel use and what can be used today to repair spot welded cars? Someone suggested a Sunkko battery spot welder any other suggestions much appreciated. How are you guys re-welding your cars?

Many of us in the process of restoring old rolling stock have encountered the same problem. true some of the epoxies/adhesives available today will work, but is nice to just be able to spot weld things together.I have come across an article that suggests using a lionel 1044(been years since i read th article) I used the little blue box L. transformer I had.. make contact points out of stainless wire, affixed to a clothes pin. connect to the outputs on the L. transformer. when the wires meet, you get a small spot weld. You should be able to napkin engineer the spot welder.

Thanks for the reply- What I have been contemplating is a battery welder like a Sunkko 709A which is used for spot welding battery strips to battery posts to make battery packs. Not sure if the tinplate is too thick though for the machine. But two hundred dollars seems a reasonable price to be able to repair tinplate if a battery welder would work.